Research exposes real challenges for closing the gap

Wendy Hoy

Chronic disease research is providing a realistic picture of what is needed to close the gap between health of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

University of Queensland researcher Professor Wendy Hoy, has studied Indigenous health for 16 years and her work was recognised by a NHMRC Australian Fellowship in 2008.  Her research has helped build our knowledge of chronic disease, particularly in high risk populations and has included the trialling and evaluation of prevention and treatments.

“It will probably take several generations for Indigenous people’s health to approximate that of non-Indigenous Australians.

“For greatest impact, interventions must be fast-forwarded in areas with the highest death rates,” Prof Hoy said.

“Well targeted and resourced efforts, continually evaluated and adapted, will produce steady improvements in all important parameters of Indigenous health,” she said.

The NHMRC has played a key role in funding Dr Hoy’s multidisciplinary work in chronic disease in high risk populations, supporting studies in renal morphology, kidney ultrastructure, kidney stereology, biomarkers, genetics, epidemiology, clinical interventions and health services improvements.

Much of her research work includes capacity building, improving knowledge and skills within the research community, health services and the study populations themselves. An example of this is the establishment of chronic disease surveillance and treatment programs and training of staff in six Indigenous communities and health services in the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

“These programs constantly seek to build capacity in Indigenous people to inform, shape and participate in the research process,” she said.

In the battle to close the gap, Prof Hoy suggests a focus on shorter-term measures is needed, including:

• adequate primary care services and health infrastructure
• development and implementation of a long-term action plan targeted to areas of need
• building evidence and supporting what works
• measuring, monitoring and reporting outcomes, and
• implementing adequately funded campaigns to contain problem drinking and smoking.

Her current work includes a prevention trial on the Tiwi Islands, to see if onset of renal disease can be prevented, genome typing to better understand susceptibility (collaborating with the USA’s National Institutes of Health) and promotion of chronic kidney disease as a national health priority.

Much of her work has relevance for Indigenous populations internationally and she is involved in significant collaborations with colleagues outside Australia.

Media: Faculty Communications Manager, Marlene McKendry – 0401 99 6847.